My neighborhood

I have lived in my current home for just over 9 years. It's near West End Avenue and Greenbrook Road. My "neighborhood" is small--maybe 2 blocks long and another block-and-a-half wide; but we all pretty well know one another at least by face and hand wave if not full-out by name (or more).

It's a dog group for sure. We met many of our neighbors either walking our dogs or our kids. Or just walking to get in shape (or digest dinner :) ). If I need a cup of sugar, I can call any one of about 5 people in the neighborhood without feeling funny. It's really nice.

We also used to live on a really short block of Grandview Avenue, and it was the same thing. In fact, we even knew people that lived around the corner and a few houses in. Back then, we had no kids and we didn't walk the dog. We just met waving hello as we all came and went... stopping to speak more when mowing the lawn or raking leaves, etc. We only lived there 18 months and I have to say that we knew that "family" of neighbors pretty well.

Jackson Avenue has (or at least had? I think they still have) such a tight knit neighborhood that they regularly had block parties and all kinds of stuff going on there that was awesome. One of their residents there said the nice thing was that even though things were going on all the time, nobody every felt any pressure or obligation to participate--and nobody ever thought anything of people "opting out".


I know that this is not abnormal in North Plainfield... and a major reason people stay. What you're surrounded by (and KNOWING what you have) is a huge comfort level--especially when you're surrounded by good folks. :)